The proud brag thread

We've got threads for hotlinks, memes, minor rants, first world problem.  How about adding one for proud brags.  You can brag about yourself, but this is more for kids, family, friends, students etc.

My proud brag.  My 20 year old who in in college and works has just opened up both an IRA and an education savings account for her future masters.  Working she's put $2k in each and is putting in $50 a month after this.  OK, we cover her living expenses, but she refuses to get a new phone as her iPhone 6 still works, and didn't buy an iPad until, on top of her normal retail job and school, she house sat for one of my wifes clients and made enough to buy it without touching any of her normal money.  Damn good for you kid.  You may be planning on a low paid profession, but you're going to be fine for your future with habits like this.

Kid that understands the value of a dollar these days is already a win

In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :

DD#1 got out of college (with a low-to-no-pay degree) in 2014 about $10k in debt.  She's paid that debt off, paid cash for a '99 Miata as a toy, replaced the starter car we bought her with a lightly used 2013 C-Max (found, financed, and paid off all by herself), has a 401(k), and a pretty substantial emergency fund.  She's not yet 28.

She's recently gotten Salesforce certification of some kind to improve her marketability.

Oh, and she's also chair of our club's autocross program.

We have our differences but she's turning out OK.

Pro tip, and honestly IMHO the only way to use a 529 plan: Start a 529 plan for her, deposit her monthly fees including housing into it, and immediately withdraw to use for said monthly fees. Save those taxes! 

Note: I'm not sure if you need to let it mature at all.

Note, we have  a 529 plan for her.  This is her own for her masters. The deal for undergrad is we pay 2/3 and she pays 1/3.  That's because for her older sister (technically my step daughter) we paid 1/3, she paid 1/3 and her other dad payed 1/3.  We effectivly gave both kids the same deal, but they're on their own for post grad.

Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) said:

We've got threads for hotlinks, memes, minor rants, first world problem.  How about adding one for proud brags.  You can brag about yourself, but this is more for kids, family, friends, students etc.

My proud brag.  My 20 year old who in in college and works has just opened up both an IRA and an education savings account for her future masters.  Working she's put $2k in each and is putting in $50 a month after this.  OK, we cover her living expenses, but she refuses to get a new phone as her iPhone 6 still works, and didn't buy an iPad until, on top of her normal retail job and school, she house sat for one of my wifes clients and made enough to buy it without touching any of her normal money.  Damn good for you kid.  You may be planning on a low paid profession, but you're going to be fine for your future with habits like this.

Did you not talk to her about how much money she's supposed to be sending home to you every week?  

Our twin boys are in pre-k this year. One of them has absolutely soaked up reading, writing, and math.  So much so he's being put into a more advanced group.  The other is showing some impressive drawing and engineering acumen.  He is very methodical and wants to understand how things work.  I understand touting the "basic" achievements of small children can be questionable, but as the parent I can't help having fun watching it all unfold.

Duke & Adrian - you're kids are doing a lot better financially than I was at their age. Color me impressed. We're trying to get our kids started now by paying them in coins for small jobs around the house that are outside of their normal responsibilities.  We'll see how that works out.

My son is 1/2 way through Air Force tech school.  He was just recently promoted to a student squad leader and is saving money to buy a car for his first duty station of Las Vegas.

My middle kid just turned 13 years old, is a freshman in high school, and today received her award for first honors for the 3rd quarter after having achieved second honors in the first and second quarters.

My kid hasn't killed anyone, yet. But he's 9 so he still has time. 

None of my cats have urinated inappropriately today.

Yet.

I got my pilot's license on my own dime when I was 19.

My wife sold her first piece of jewelry on Etsy the other day.

Appleseed said:

I got my pilot's license on my own dime when I was 19.

Damn, I keep thinking about it at 51 but can't bring myself to spend the money. Well done. 

My kid brother finished his 20 in the USAF and is now retired . . . at 38 years old.  He was smart enough to raise his hand 7 or 8 years ago when the USAF asked if anyone wanted to retrain in computer & network security.  Now, as a consultant, he will likely make more than I do as an attorney.

My youngest is 32 and has enough in his retirement account that if he never adds another dime he'll be better off than most in retirement.

My eldest son is 34 , DD's a late model Z71, has a C5Z, a Cadillac DTS, and is building a big block Chev square body. He'll probably never be able to retire but he's enjoying the ride.

My 31 year old daughter started her retirement account when she was 16. Her younger sister started at 14. 

I have 9 living Nonagenarians (90 year olds)  in my family. 
 

You guys may have to put up with my E36 M3 for a long time yet to come!

My son has won an Emmy award. 

My 31 yo daughter now makes more than I do in a business she self-started 3 years ago. 

My 17 yo daughter has been to 10 different countries, and paid for each trip entirely by herself. 

My 20 year old son will soon earn his doctorate. 

My son was on the field filiming at the Super Bowl 2 years ago. 
 

He was also hanging out of a helicopter filming at the Rolex24. 

We homeschooled. My wife taught them all. 

I hugged Gwen Stefani.  She smelled flowery.  I had to retire the blazer I was wearing that night because glitter reasons.